Ball lightning

Ball lightning is a natural phenomenon wherein electrical discharges from rain clouds manifest as floating objects rather than the more typical arcing circuit completions seen in more common lightning. The process of ball lightning formation was first described by Nikola Tesla on March 5, 1904 (Electrical World and Engineer). [1]

No known attempts to create ball lightning in the lab have succeeded, suggesting the phenomenon requires extraordinary power and other conditions. There are claims of ball lightning-like effects created by microwave ovens.

Some UFO skeptics have suggested that many apparent close encounters are actually observations of ball lightning. UFO enthusiasts report seeing ball lightning often at crop circle sites and believe them to be some kind of intelligence or come from some kind of intelligence while not denying that it is indeed ball lightning.